§2.1τούτων μὲν οὖν ἁπάντων, ὥσπερ εἶπον, νομίζω αὐτὴν τὴν χώραν αἰτίαν εἶναι.
Of all these things, as I said, I believe the land itself to be the cause.
εἰ δὲ πρὸς τοῖς αὐτοφυέσιν ἀγαθοῖς πρῶτον μὲν τῶν μετοίκων ἐπιμέλεια γένοιτο· αὕτη γὰρ ἡ πρόσοδος τῶν καλλίστων ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ εἶναι, ἐπείπερ αὐτοὶ αὑτοὺς τρέφοντες καὶ πολλὰ ὠφελοῦντες τὰς πόλεις οὐ λαμβάνουσι μισθόν, ἀλλὰ μετοίκιον προσφέρουσιν— §2.2ἐπιμέλειά γε μὴν ἥδʼ ἂν ἀρκεῖν μοι δοκεῖ, εἰ ἀφέλοιμεν μὲν ὅσα μηδὲν ὠφελοῦντα τὴν πόλιν ἀτιμίας δοκεῖ τοῖς μετοίκοις παρέχειν, ἀφέλοιμεν δὲ καὶ τὸ συστρατεύεσθαι ὁπλίτας μετοίκους τοῖς ἀστοῖς.
But if, in addition to these natural advantages, care were first of all taken of the resident aliens—for this source of revenue seems to me to be one of the best, since they support themselves and bring many benefits to the cities, receiving no salary but paying the alien tax— indeed, the following care would seem to me to be sufficient: if we were to remove all those things which, while benefiting the city in no way, seem to bring dishonor to the resident aliens, and if we were also to relieve the resident alien hoplites of the duty of serving in the field along with the citizens.
μέγας μὲν γὰρ ὁ κίνδυνος ἀπόντι· μέγα δὲ καὶ τὸ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων καὶ τῶν οἰκιῶν ἀπιέναι.
For the danger is great for one who is away from home; and it is also a great thing to go away from children and home.
§2.3ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ ἡ πόλις γʼ ἂν ὠφεληθείη, εἰ οἱ πολῖται μετʼ ἀλλήλων στρατεύοιντο μᾶλλον ἢ εἰ συντάττοιντο αὐτοῖς, ὥσπερ νῦν, Λυδοὶ καὶ Φρύγες καὶ Σύροι καὶ ἄλλοι παντοδαποὶ βάρβαροι· πολλοὶ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι τῶν μετοίκων.
Moreover, the city too would benefit if the citizens served in the field with one another, rather than if there were drawn up with them, as now, Lydians, Phrygians, Syrians, and other barbarians of all kinds; for there are many such among the resident aliens.
§2.4πρὸς δὲ τῷ ἀγαθῷ τῷ τούτους τοῦ συντάττεσθαι ἀφεθῆναι καὶ κόσμος ἂν τῇ πόλει εἴη, εἰ δοκοῖεν Ἀθηναῖοι εἰς τὰς μάχας αὑτοῖς μᾶλλον πιστεύειν ἢ ἀλλοδαποῖς.
And in addition to the advantage of releasing these men from service, it would also be an ornament to the city if the Athenians were seen to trust themselves in battle rather than foreigners.
§2.5καὶ μεταδιδόντες δʼ ἄν μοι δοκοῦμεν τοῖς μετοίκοις τῶν τʼ ἄλλων ὧν καλὸν μεταδιδόναι καὶ τοῦ ἱππικοῦ εὐνουστέρους ἂν ποιεῖσθαι καὶ ἅμα ἰσχυροτέραν ἂν καὶ μείζω τὴν πόλιν ἀποδεικνύναι.
And by giving the resident aliens a share in other things which it is honorable to share, and in the cavalry, we would, I think, make them more well-disposed, and at the same time show our city to be stronger and greater.
§2.6εἶτα ἐπειδὴ καὶ πολλὰ οἰκιῶν ἔρημά ἐστιν ἐντὸς τῶν τειχῶν καὶ οἰκόπεδα, εἰ ἡ πόλις διδοίη οἰκοδομησομένοις ἐγκεκτῆσθαι οἳ ἂν αἰτούμενοι ἄξιοι δοκῶσιν εἶναι, πολὺ ἂν οἴομαι καὶ διὰ ταῦτα πλείους τε καὶ βελτίους ὀρέγεσθαι τῆς Ἀθήνησιν οἰκήσεως.
Furthermore, since there are also many empty houses within the walls, and building sites, if the city were to grant to those who apply and seem worthy the right to own property for building, I think that for this reason too, many more and better people would desire to reside at Athens.
§2.7καὶ εἰ μετοικοφύλακάς γε ὥσπερ ὀρφανοφύλακας ἀρχὴν καθισταῖμεν, καὶ τούτοις τιμή τις ἐπείη οἵτινες πλείστους μετοίκους ἀποδείξειαν, καὶ τοῦτο εὐνουστέρους ἂν τοὺς μετοίκους ποιοίη καί, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, πάντες ἂν οἱ ἀπόλιδες τῆς Ἀθήνησι μετοικίας ὀρέγοιντο καὶ τὰς προσόδους ἂν αὔξοιεν.
And if we were to establish an office of 'guardians of resident aliens,' just as there are 'guardians of orphans,' and some honor were attached to those who registered the greatest number of resident aliens, this too would make the resident aliens more well-disposed, and naturally, all those without a city would desire to reside at Athens and would increase our revenues.